‘Destination dupes' are this summer's hottest low-budget vacation hack, travel experts say — here's how it works
If you can't go with the flow, go with the faux.
Rather than breaking the bank, visiting voguish vacation locations, a staggering 63% of pennywise sightseers are taking cost-friendly trips to 'destination dupes.'
'With travel prices soaring, many Americans are rethinking how and where they vacation,' explained study authors for CouponFollow, a discount travel hub, in a recent report.
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6 The 'destination dupes' movement is rising as a cost-cutting trend among travelers on a budget.
ViDi Studio – stock.adobe.com
'Instead of chasing the usual bucket-list destinations, they're turning to designation dupes,' said the experts, 'affordable alternative locations that deliver similar charm without the hefty price tag or large crowds.'
Insiders surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults, ranging in age from 18 to over 55. The poll revealed that frugal folks have saved an average of $2,262, exploring less popular lands, like Liverpool and Croatia, as reasonable substitutes to haute hotspots such as London and Italy, respectively.
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So long, Lake Cuomo, hello Schitt's Creek.
The money-saving movement is picking up steam among travel enthusiasts worldwide, as chichi cities like Venice have started hitting tourists with entry fees, and residents in Barcelona have begun attacking outsiders.
So, to avoid the drama and the trauma, tightwads are doing the dupes.
6 Thrifty globetrotters are forgoing expensive trips to Italy for wallet-friendly alternatives.
travnikovstudio – stock.adobe.com
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6 The study found that 63% of frequent trippers prefer destination dupes to luxury vacations.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com
6 Croatia has been hailed as an affordable alternative to Italy.
puhhha – stock.adobe.com
The top knockoff spot of 2025 is the Azores. It's a group of volcanic islands belonging to Portugal that's become the next best thing to a costly escape to Hawaii, per CouponFollow.
Taking the second-place slot for the best second-rate stay is Liverpool, England. Rather than blowing big bucks to visit London, jet-setters can soak in Liverpool's similarly rich cultural scene, historic landmarks and vibrant nightlife.
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Third in the ranking is Croatia as a make-do swap for Italy. The humble country reportedly offers stunning coastlines, historic architecture and Mediterranean charm with fewer crowds and more cash-conscious accommodations — which is of utmost importance to globetrotters.
6 According to CouponFollow's report, travelers expect to spend 20% to 30% less on a destination dupe than the original hotspot.
Andrii Iemelianenko – stock.adobe.com
'The biggest factor driving this trend was affordability, with 73% of travelers saying lower costs were the top reason why they chose a dupe,' said the researchers. 'Over half (53%) also went to these destinations to enjoy fewer crowds. More than 1 in 4 believed these swaps were trendier and cooler than traditional luxury trips.'
But a destination dupe can't be a dud.
6 Destination dupe enthusiasts prefer taking low-cost trips over high-priced getaways.
Guajillo studio – stock.adobe.com
A whopping 61% of respondents preferred their cut-rate experiences over the oohs-and-ahhs they might have had on a pricier holiday. But to make the downgrade worthwhile, roughly 4 in 10 travelers said the bargain retreat needs to be at least 20% to 30% cheaper than the original location.
'For anyone looking to stretch their travel budget, the perfect trip might not be the most obvious one,' the travel masters advised.
'It could be a well-chosen alternative that offers more for less.'
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